Cuar.IV.] ATTACKED AND ROBBED. 57 
and made off; but when I put my hand into my 
pocket, I found that I had lost several things of 
more value. This incident stopped my progress, 
and made me look about for my servant, whom I 
saw at some distance attacked by about eight or 
ten of the fellows. They had surrounded him, 
presenting their knives, and threatening to stab 
him if he offered the least resistance, at the same 
time endeavouring to rob and strip him of every 
thing of the slightest value, and my poor plants 
collected with so much care were flying about 
in all directions. I felt that we were in a dan- 
gerous situation, and instantly leaving my pick- 
pockets, set off to his assistance as fast as I could. 
When the Chinamen saw me coming, they all took 
to their heels and left him, making off towards 
their companions, who were looking on from a 
distance. My servant was pale with fright when I 
reached him, and very much excited; nor did he fail 
to remind me of all he had said the day before. 
I felt there was no denying we were in dangerous 
company, and that the only thing to be done was 
to get out of it as soon as we could. Accordingly 
I made straight for the village where we had left the 
boat, and my servant took good care to follow close 
at my heels. As we approached the landing- 
place the boatman came to meet us in high spirits, 
saying he had expected us long ago, and was fearful 
that the Chinchew men had either robbed or mur- 
dered us. It was now ebb tide, and there was 
about half a mile of bare sand to cross, with the 
